Best Movie Genres The Best Superhero Movies Ever Made

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Superhero movies may seem like a current trend, but the truth is, superheroes on film have been around since the beginning of celluloid. Most of the top superhero movies come from the comic giants like DC Movies or Marvel Films. Heroes like Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and Wolverine are all favorite superhero movie characters who have made it from the pages of comics to the big screen time and time again.

Superheroes began in classic American comic books in the 1930s, though their predecessors date back to earlier crime fighters and even mythological superhuman characters, like Zeus and Thor. In the Golden Age of comic books, superheroes frequented the pages of DC Comics, including Superman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern. In the 1960s, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and Iron Man showed up in the pages of Marvel Comics. More modern superhero stories like Kick-Ass and Watchmen still delight audiences.

Superhero movie serials once played before big features at movie houses. Today, Hollywood turns out giant summer blockbusters that routinely break records and bring in big business for studio execs, costumers, and special effects crews alike. Everyone has a favorite superhero film, and you can add yours to the rankings by voting up an existing item or creating your own full re-rank of your favorite super hero movies.

2

9,350 4,286

The AvengersRobert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo Marvel's The Avengers is a 2012 American superhero film directed by Joss Whedon, based on the Marvel Comics superhero team. Earth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a ...more

3

8,218 3,854

Iron ManRobert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges Iron Man is a 2008 American superhero film directed by Jon Favreau, based on the Marvel Comics character. After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark (Robert ...more

4

8,434 4,379

Batman BeginsChristian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson Batman Begins is a 2005 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, based on the DC Comics character. After training with his mentor (Liam Neeson), Batman (Christian Bale) begins his fight to ...more

5

7,795 4,009

ScrewTimTebow added The Dark Knight RisesChristian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman The Dark Knight Rises is a 2012 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, based on the DC Comics character. Eight years after the Joker's reign of anarchy, Batman (Christian Bale), with the ...more

6

6,101 3,806

Spider-Man 2Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco Spider-Man 2 is a 2004 American superhero film directed by Sam Raimi, based on the Marvel Comics character. While struggling to manage both his personal life and his duties as Spider-Man, Peter ...more

7

6,902 3,943

X-Men: First ClassJennifer Lawrence, Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender X-Men: First Class is a 2011 American superhero film, based on the X-Men characters appearing in Marvel Comics. It is the fifth installment in the X-Men film series. It serves as a prequel to ...more

8

5,388 3,180

Spider-ManTobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst Spider-Man is a 2002 American superhero film directed by Sam Raimi, based on the Marvel Comics character. When bitten by a genetically modified spider, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), a nerdy, ...more

9

4,596 3,326

X-Men 2Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, Anna Paquin X2 is a 2003 American superhero film, based on the X-Men superhero team appearing in Marvel Comics, distributed by 20th Century Fox. It is the second installment in the X-Men film series. The ...more

10

5,768 2,918

The IncrediblesSamuel L. Jackson, Holly Hunter, Jason Lee The Incredibles is a 2004 American computer-animated comedy superhero film written and directed by Brad Bird and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It was the sixth film produced by Pixar ...more

11

4,969 3,088

BatmanJack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Michael Keaton Batman is a 1989 American superhero film directed by Tim Burton and produced by Jon Peters, based on the DC Comics character of the same name. It is the first installment of Warner Bros.' ...more

12

6,012 1,374

Captain America: The Winter SoldierScarlett Johansson, Cobie Smulders, Samuel L. Jackson Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a 2014 American superhero film featuring the Marvel Comics character Captain America, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios ...more

13

4,434 2,922

X-MenHalle Berry, Hugh Jackman, Anna Paquin X-Men is a 2000 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name, distributed by 20th Century Fox. It is the first installment in the X-Men film series. The ...more

14

4,526 861

Guardians of the GalaxyChris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista Guardians of the Galaxy is a 2014 American superhero film directed by James Gunn, based on the Marvel Comics superhero team. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) forms a group of intergalactic "bad ...more

15

4,784 2,688

Captain America: The First AvengerSamuel L. Jackson, Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones Captain America: The First Avenger is a 2011 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Captain America, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is ...more

16

4,346 3,134

ThorChris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston Thor is a 2011 American superhero film directed by Kenneth Branagh, based on the Marvel Comics character. The powerful, but arrogant god Thor (Chris Hemsworth), is cast out of Asgard to live ...more

17

4,059 3,014

SupermanMarlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve Superman is a 1978 superhero film directed by Richard Donner. It is based on the DC Comics character of the same name and stars Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, ...more

18

3,503 1,283

X-Men: Days of Future PastJennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman X-Men: Days of Future Past is a 2014 science fiction action film written by Jane Goldman, Simon Kinberg and Matthew Vaughn; directed by Matthew Vaughn.

19

3,742 750

ghost22 added DeadpoolRyan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein Deadpool is a 2016 American superhero film directed by Tim Miller, based on the Marvel Comics character. After being given mutant abilities with a scarred physical appearance, Wade Wilson (Ryan ...more

20

3,114 632

Captain America: Civil WarChris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson Captain America: Civil War is a 2016 American superhero film directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, based on the Marvel Comics character. Political interference in the Avengers' activities causes a ...more

22

3,389 207

Avengers: Infinity WarRobert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo Avengers: Infinity War is a 2018 American superhero film directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. Torn apart after the events of Captain America: Civil War, the Avengers join forces with the Guardians ...more

23

2,836 454

LoganHugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen Logan is a 2017 American superhero drama film featuring the Marvel Comics character Wolverine. It is the 10th installment in the X-Men film series and the third and final Wolverine solo film ...more

24

3,431 3,167

Iron Man 2Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle Iron Man 2 is a 2010 American superhero film directed by Jon Favreau, based on the Marvel Comics character. With the world now aware of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) ...more

25

3,016 2,509

Batman ReturnsMichelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Danny DeVito Batman Returns is a 1992 American superhero film, directed and produced by Tim Burton, based upon the Batman character appearing in comics published by DC Comics. It is the second installment of ...more